John Robert Lawton, aged 76 from Blandford, who was charged with causing death by careless driving, admitted the offence when he appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 29th August.

He was sentenced to a community order with a three-month curfew requirement and disqualified from driving for 12 months. Lawton was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £85.

The collision occurred at around 10.30am on Sunday 12th March at Badbury Rings on the B3082 at the junction leading to Sturminster Marshall.

A silver Toyota Avensis, travelling from Wimborne to Blandford, collided with Lawton’s Ford Focus, which was travelling in the opposite direction.

Witnesses described the Ford turning right across the path of the oncoming Toyota.

An 84-year-old woman from the Trowbridge area, who was a passenger in the Toyota, was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital following the collision but sadly died from her injuries on Tuesday 11th April.

Inspector Joe Pardey, of the traffic unit, said: “This was a tragic incident that sadly resulted in the death of an elderly woman and my thoughts are with their family.

“I hope this sentence at least offers the family some sense of closure now that the legal proceedings have been concluded.

“This sad case demonstrates that any motorist from any part of the community getting behind the wheel of a car is in charge of a potentially lethal machine and highlights the need to drive responsibly and carefully at all times.”